His glory is great in thy salvation: glory and great beauty shalt thou lay upon him.
גָּד֣וֹל כְּ֭בוֹדוֹ בִּישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ ה֥וֹד וְ֝הָדָר תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Truly magnificent is His majesty in the deliverance through which You resurrected Him. You will bestow upon Him glory and immense honor. Yet, even more glory and honor shall be granted to Him when You seat Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms.
Great is His majesty in Your deliverance: You shall bestow honor and magnificence upon Him; for not only did You provide Him with salvation, but You also exalted Him, rendering Him renowned and deserving of awe, both through the miraculous defeat of His adversaries and the miraculous retreat of the sun. These events became so well-known across the earth and the seas that the king of Babylon sent tributes to those who had previously honored the Assyrians. For upon the defeat of the Assyrians, this king surmised that the sun had changed its course, or endured such a phenomenon, on account of Hezekiah.
Magnificent is His splendor through Your deliverance. King Hezekiah was granted divine assistance and favor, which entailed not just his miraculous rescue from adversaries but also a remarkable extension of his life by fifteen years. Through this, he gained immense renown among the nations, prompting kings to send silver and envoys to seek his companionship. This occurred through the wise and specific Providence of God regarding him. Glory and majesty, You will bestow upon him, says the Lord; You have already exalted Hezekiah, yet this is only the beginning. You shall glorify him further, enhancing his fame through Your blessings.
Christ's glory is also profound, not only because the Father delivered Him in His humanity and resurrected Him, but also due to His ascension and enthronement at the right hand of majesty. It is worth noting that the sun’s retreat to the east for ten hours was a sign of Hezekiah’s healing, contributing to his legendary status. Witnessing this miracle, the Babylonians were awestruck when the day extended to thirty-two hours—ten hours already passed, ten hours of the sun's return, totaling twenty, followed by twelve more hours crossing from east to west, completing its natural cycle.
Theodoret remarks that not only has salvation been granted to Hezekiah, but he has also been rendered renowned, exalted, and glorious—through the miraculous triumph over his foes and the sun's retreat. Consequently, this miracle echoed throughout the earth, leading the king of Babylon to send him gifts; believing that the sun operated at Hezekiah's behest in light of the defeat of the Assyrians. The esteemed Athanasius observes that this was the desire of David’s heart, which upon being fulfilled, became as a resplendent crown of precious stones adorning his head. David shares in glory among all nations alongside his Lord and his Son in the flesh. Not just salvation adorned him, but also life, prolonged life, splendor, magnificence, joy, and enduring grace.
The deliverance of humanity is significant not in the pursuit of God but in the redemption of mankind.
Through these words, the faithful followers affirm that their sovereign, shielded by the mighty hand of God and supported by His divine assistance, will shine more brightly and gain greater renown than if he had ruled in peace with universal acclaim, had been safeguarded by military might, or had achieved invincibility through his own valor and diligence. It is thus more clearly disclosed that his royal authority is granted by the grace and power of God rather than through human selection or favor. Consequently, the devoted subjects of David disregard the boasts of Gentile kings, who take pride in their renowned accomplishments and seek glory through their bravery, for they regard the honor of God's grace as superior to all earthly victories. In the meantime, they place their trust in God's support, which will be more than enough to elevate their king in glory and majesty above all other rulers of the earth.
Christ the Savior was exalted with incomprehensible majesty when He ascended to heaven, surpassing all angels, and took His place at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 8:1).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS